Benji Gans has been defying the odds since he was a toddler. The 14-year-old was diagnosed with autism when he was 3.Now, he’s planning to attend the Dreyfoos School of the Arts in Florida for communication.“Did I actually get into communications or did I just make up a positive thought in my imagination? I saw the email and was like, 'It is not just a positive thought, I actually did get into Dreyfoos,'" Benji said. The confident teen couldn’t speak for the first five years of his life - people with autism often have problems developing social, emotional and communication skills.But his parents never gave up. “They told us to take him home and love him, but keep our expectations low," said Debby Gans, Benji's mother. "Of course, we were going to take him home and love him, but that is when I became a fighter. I looked at her and said, ‘Don’t tell me to keep my expectations low unless you have walked in my shoes.'"Benji went to therapy for the first several years of his life. Now, public speaking is his passion. He even gave a TEDx talk at The Benjamin School, earning a standing ovation.

Benji Gans has been defying the odds since he was a toddler. The 14-year-old was diagnosed with autism when he was 3.

“Did I actually get into communications or did I just make up a positive thought in my imagination? I saw the email and was like, 'It is not just a positive thought, I actually did get into Dreyfoos,'" Benji said.

The confident teen couldn’t speak for the first five years of his life - people with autism often have problems developing social, emotional and communication skills.

But his parents never gave up.

“They told us to take him home and love him, but keep our expectations low," said Debby Gans, Benji's mother. "Of course, we were going to take him home and love him, but that is when I became a fighter. I looked at her and said, ‘Don’t tell me to keep my expectations low unless you have walked in my shoes.'"

Benji went to therapy for the first several years of his life. Now, public speaking is his passion. He even gave a TEDx talk at The Benjamin School, earning a standing ovation.